History of the Association

The National Association of School Business Management is the new name for the National Bursars Association.

The Association traces its formal beginnings back to ad hoc meetings and gatherings of small local groups around 1992 to 1994. During this period there was a great deal of discussion but a lack of positive action about the need for a professional association to represent bursars across the UK. The actual "birth" of the Association can be placed to a meeting held in Cheltenham in 1994 where it was agreed that a steering group should be set up with representatives from across the UK. It was recognised that there was a need for groups to be encouraged to join the planned national organisation and allow their voices to be heard more widely.

On the 9th March 1994, schools were invited to join what was then the Grant Maintained Schools Association. It was determined that the organisation would not act for members in the ways of a trade union; it would be a professional association providing support and advice to the membership. The Association was quickly recognised by the then Funding Agency for Schools, the Department for Education and the Grant Maintained Schools Foundation. The Inland Revenue also recognised it allowing fees paid by individual members to be offset against tax.

The first formal meeting of the Council was held on the 28th June 1995 at the London Nautical School, with the original steering group members becoming Council Representatives for their regions. In 1997 it was clear that the membership of the Association needed to be offered to a wider audience than just the Grant Maintained schools and on the 27th August 1997 The National Bursars Association Ltd. was incorporated. The Association became and continues to be the only national organisation for bursars and school business managers for all schools in the maintained sector and increasingly, from the Independent sector.

In 2000 a university accredited National Registration Scheme was introduced, subsequently to be called a Licentiate Scheme. National Standards for this scheme were written as a foundation for assessment and formally agreed by the Council. The Standards were revised in 2005 and more recently in 2008. The Registration Scheme has subsequently been replaced by the full Masters' Programme - MSc Educational Leadership (School Business Management) accredited by the University of Leicester.

The national recognition of the Association has enabled it to expand its services to members and the Association is now recognised as the professional association for those working in school business management.

In 2008, after a membership vote, it was agreed to change the title to the National Association of School Business Management. A new name, a new logo and a new website have marked the changes the Association needed to address. Membership has grown significantly, more professional development programmes are provided and the latest news from the Department of Education (DfE) and the National College for the Leadership of Schools and Children's Services (National College) despatched quickly to the membership via the weekly News Bulletin.

The Association continues to develop, working with National and International partners and aims to continue to offer the membership professional advice and support at all times.